U.S. patent application number 10/360150 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-21 for printing system and method having a docking digital printer that uses a digital camera image display.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eastman Kodak Company. Invention is credited to Eckhaus, Neal, Hadley, Keith A., Jackson, Thomas I., Oliver, Jason R., Parulski, Kenneth A., Perry, Ronald J., Romano, Nathan J., Szlucha, Thomas F..
Application Number | 20030156200 10/360150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32655647 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030156200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Romano, Nathan J. ; et
al. |
August 21, 2003 |
Printing system and method having a docking digital printer that
uses a digital camera image display
Abstract
A digital photography system includes a digital camera and a
docking digital printer. The digital camera includes an image
display and the digital printer includes user interface controls to
control the images displayed on the camera and to select images to
be printed using a plurality of printer modes, including a first
mode which prints only a current image displayed on the image
display of the digital camera, and a second printing mode which
prints at least two images from the plurality of captured
images.
Inventors: |
Romano, Nathan J.;
(Rochester, NY) ; Oliver, Jason R.; (Rush, NY)
; Jackson, Thomas I.; (Fairport, NY) ; Szlucha,
Thomas F.; (Penfield, NY) ; Eckhaus, Neal;
(Rochester, NY) ; Parulski, Kenneth A.;
(Rochester, NY) ; Perry, Ronald J.; (Webster,
NY) ; Hadley, Keith A.; (Rochester, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Milton S. Sales
Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Assignee: |
Eastman Kodak Company
|
Family ID: |
32655647 |
Appl. No.: |
10/360150 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10360150 |
Feb 6, 2003 |
|
|
|
09571928 |
May 16, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/207.99 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2201/0084 20130101;
H04N 1/2104 20130101; H04N 2201/001 20130101; H04N 1/00278
20130101; H04N 2201/0082 20130101; H04N 1/2112 20130101; H04N
2201/0074 20130101; H04N 2201/0056 20130101; H04N 2201/0049
20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/207.99 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/225 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital photography system comprising: a digital camera for
capturing images and a digital printer for producing hardcopy
prints; the camera including: an image sensor for capturing images;
a memory for storing a plurality of the captured images; and an
image display for displaying the stored images; the printer
including; a marking apparatus adapted to provide the images on a
print; an electrical interface for transferring images from the
camera to the printer; and user controls for selectively
controlling the printer in at least two different printing modes,
including a first printing mode which prints only a current image
displayed on the image display of the digital camera, and a second
printing mode which prints at least two images from the plurality
of captured images.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the marking apparatus of
the printer is a color marking engine adapted to print the selected
image to be printed on a hardcopy print.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the printer further
includes a recess for receiving the digital camera.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said recess includes pins
for mechanically securing said digital camera
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical interface
is a universal serial bus interface.
6. A system according to claim 3, wherein said camera further
includes a connector which mates with a connector provided in said
recess in said printer.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user controls of the
printer comprise a print mode button for selecting the first
printing mode and the second printing mode.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second printing mode
includes one of a print order file printing mode, a print all
printing mode, and an index print printing mode.
9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the second printing mode
is a print order file printing mode, wherein the digital camera
includes a user interface for optionally creating and storing the
print order file in said memory, and wherein the second printing
mode can be selected only if the print order file has been stored
in said memory.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the print order file is
a DPOF file.
11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the printer further
includes a print all printing mode which can be selected using the
user controls.
12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the printer further
includes an index print printing mode which can be selected using
the user controls.
13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the printer includes a
printing mode display, and the printing mode display indicates the
user selected printing mode.
14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user selected
printing mode is displayed on the display of the digital
camera.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the second mode is a
print order file printing mode, and wherein the display of the
digital camera displays the number of pictures specified for
printing in the print order file.
16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the display of the
digital camera displays the number of pages needed to print the
images as specified for printing in the print order file.
17. A system according to claim 14, wherein the second mode is a
print all printing mode, and wherein the display of the digital
camera displays the number of pages needed to print all of the
images stored in said memory.
18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is an
index print printing mode, and wherein the display of the digital
camera displays the number of pages needed to print the index
prints.
19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the marking apparatus
includes a removable ink jet head.
20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the marking apparatus
uses color thermal dye sublimation.
21. A printer adapted to produce hardcopy prints, the printer
comprising: an interface arrangement for connecting a digital
camera including an image display to the printer, said interface
arrangement being adapted to transfer a plurality of captured
images stored in a digital memory of the digital camera to the
printer; and user controls for selectively controlling the printer
in at least two different printing modes, including a first
printing mode which prints only a current image displayed on the
image display of the digital camera, and a second printing mode
which prints at least two images from the plurality of captured
images.
22. A printer according to claim 21, wherein the printer further
includes a printing mode status display.
23. A printer according to claim 21, wherein said interface
arrangement comprises a first connector which is adapted to be
connected to a second connector on the digital camera.
24. A printer according to claim 23, wherein said interface
arrangement comprises a recess in said printer which comprises said
first connector, said recess being sized to receive the digital
camera.
25. A printer according to claim 21, wherein said interface is a
universal serial bus interface.
26. A printer according to claim 21, wherein the user controls
comprise a print mode button for selecting the first printing mode
and the second printing mode.
27. A printer according to claim 21, wherein the second printing
mode includes one of a print order file printing mode, a print all
printing mode, and an index print printing mode.
28. A printer according to claim 21 wherein the second printing
mode is a print order file printing mode, wherein the digital
camera includes a user interface for optionally creating and
storing the print order file in said digital memory, and wherein
the second printing mode can be selected only if the print order
file has been stored in said digital memory.
29. A printer according to claim 28, wherein the print order file
is a DPOF file.
30. A printer according to claim 28, wherein the printer further
includes a print all printing mode which can be selected using the
user controls.
31. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the printer further
includes an index print printing mode which can be selected using
the user controls.
32. A printer according to claim 31, wherein the printer includes a
printing mode display, and the printing mode display indicates the
user selected printing mode.
33. A printer according to claim 21, wherein the user selected
printing mode is displayed on the display of the digital
camera.
34. A printer according to claim 33, wherein the second mode is a
print order file printing mode, and wherein the display of the
digital camera displays the number of pictures specified for
printing in the print order file.
35. A printer according to claim 34, wherein the display of the
digital camera displays the number of pages needed to print the
images as specified for printing in the print order file.
36. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the second mode is a
print all printing mode, and wherein the display of the digital
camera displays the number of pages needed to print all of the
images stored in said memory.
37. A printer according to claim 36, wherein the second mode is a
index print printing mode, and wherein the display of the digital
camera displays the number of pages needed to print the index
prints.
38. A method of producing prints, the method comprising the steps
of: electronically capturing a plurality of images using an
electronic camera; connecting the electronic camera to an
electronic printer; using user controls on the electronic printer
to select a first printing mode which prints only a current image
displayed on the image display of the digital camera; transferring
the current image to the printer; printing the transferred current
image; using user controls to select a second printing mode which
prints at least two images from the plurality of captured images.
transferring the at least two images to the printer; and printing
the transferred at least two images;
Description
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/571,928 filed May 16, 2000.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Reference is made to commonly-assigned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/570,089 (Docket 76759P) filed May 12, 2000,
entitled "A COLOR DIGITAL PRINTER HAVING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
FOR DISPLAYING AND SELECTING IMAGES FROM A DIGITAL STORAGE MEDIUM"
to Romano et. al.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a color digital photography
system including a digital camera and a digital printer and, more
particularly, a digital camera including an image display and a
digital printer including user interface controls which control the
digital camera to select images to be printed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Digital cameras and digital printers are available from the
Eastman Kodak Company and many other suppliers. Current digital
cameras, such as the Kodak DC280 camera, capture images with a
single-chip color CCD image sensor, process the images to provide
"finished" RGB images, compress the images using JPEG compression,
and store the images on a removable memory card. The images can be
reviewed on an LCD image display on the back of the camera, and
unwanted images can be deleted.
[0005] The memory card can then be placed in a digital color
printer, such as the Kodak Personal Picture Maker PM100. This
printer includes memory card slots for the well-known Compact Flash
and Smart Media Flash EPROM memory cards. The card is removed from
the camera and placed in the printer. The printer includes a
monochrome LCD status display and several buttons that serve as the
user interface. These buttons enable the user to make one or more
copies of all of the images on the memory card and to select
various printer features. The prints are made using a color ink jet
head which marks specially designed photo ink jet paper.
[0006] As described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application
Ser. No. ______ (Docket 76759P) filed May 12, 2000, entitled "A
COLOR DIGITAL PRINTER HAVING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR
DISPLAYING AND SELECTING IMAGES FROM A DIGITAL STORAGE MEDIUM" to
Romano et. al., a digital printer may include an image display,
such as a color LCD, as part of a printer graphical user interface
(GUI) to allow the user to select images to be printed. However,
this means the digital photography system that a user must purchase
includes an expensive color LCD in both the camera and printer.
This increases the cost of the system.
[0007] What is needed is a printer GUI that allows the images to be
easily selected for printing without requiring that the printer
include an expensive color image display, and which provides
printing modes for easily printing a single image as well as other
modes for printing multiple images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides for a photography system that
includes a digital camera and a digital or electronic printer. The
digital photography system comprises a digital camera for capturing
images and a digital printer for producing hardcopy prints. The
camera includes an image sensor for capturing images; a memory for
storing a plurality of captured images; and a display for
displaying the stored images. The printer includes a marking
apparatus adapted to provide images on a print; an electrical
interface for transferring images from the camera to the printer;
and user controls for selectively controlling the printer in at
least two different printing modes, including a first printing mode
which prints only a current image displayed on the image display of
the digital camera, and a second printing mode which prints at
least two images from the plurality of captured images.
[0009] The present invention further provides for a printer adapted
to produce hardcopy prints. The printer comprises an interface
arrangement for connecting a digital camera including an image
display to the printer, the interface arrangement being adapted to
transfer a plurality of captured images stored in a digital memory
of the digital camera to the printer; and user controls for
selectively controlling the printer in at least two different
printing modes, including a first printing mode which prints only a
current image displayed on the image display of the digital camera,
and a second printing mode which prints at least two images from
the plurality of captured images.
[0010] The present invention further provides for a method of
producing prints. The method comprises the steps of: electronically
capturing a plurality of images using an electronic camera;
connecting the electronic camera to an electronic printer; using
user controls on the electronic printer to select a first printing
mode which prints only a current image displayed on the image
display of the digital camera; transferring the current image to
the printer; printing the transferred current image; using user
controls to select a second printing mode which prints at least two
images from the plurality of captured images; transferring the at
least two images to the printer; and printing the transferred at
least two images.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a digital camera that
captures and stores images on a digital storage media and includes
a color image display;
[0012] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a digital printer having
user controls for selecting images to be printed and which
interfaces to the digital camera of FIG. 1 in order to control the
images displayed on the camera color image display;
[0013] FIG. 3A depicts the rear view of an electronic camera;
[0014] FIG. 3B depicts a perspective view of a first embodiment of
a digital printer;
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts the printer graphical user interface;
[0016] FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram of a typical user interaction
scenario;
[0017] FIGS. 6A to 6L, 6L', 6M, 6M' and 6N-6Q depict graphical user
interface screens used as part of the printer graphical user
interface;
[0018] FIG. 7 depicts a second embodiment of a digital printer;
[0019] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
digital printer;
[0020] FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the third embodiment of the
digital printer;
[0021] FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of the third embodiment of
the digital printer;
[0022] FIG. 11 depicts a flow diagram of a typical user interaction
scenario; and
[0023] FIGS. 12A to 12D depict graphical user interface screens
used as part of the printer graphical user interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals represent identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, a digital camera 300 is depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG.
3A. Digital camera 300 stores images on a digital storage medium,
such as a memory card 330 as shown in FIG. 1, which can be
displayed on a color LCD image display 332. A digital printer 400,
shown in detail FIGS. 2 and 3B, produces color hardcopy prints
using a color marking apparatus 412, such as an ink jet head, and a
media transport mechanism 410. Digital printer 400 includes a
camera interface 422, such as a USB interface, for transferring
images from the digital camera 300 and controlling the images
displayed on the camera color LCD image display 332. As illustrated
in FIG. 2, digital printer 400 incorporates user controls 430 for
selecting specific images to be printed from the plurality of
digital images stored on memory card 330 within digital camera 300.
The user controls 430 on the digital printer 400 are specifically
arranged to provide easy control of the printer 400, since they do
not need to be miniaturized in order to fit on a small portable
digital camera, such as camera 300.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1 in detail, FIG. 1 is a block diagram
showing electronic camera 300 that captures and stores digital
images on a digital storage medium, such as memory card 330. FIG.
3A depicts a rear view of the appearance of electronic camera 300.
Electronic camera 300 includes a zoom lens 312 having zoom and
focus motor drives 310 and an adjustable aperture and shutter (not
shown). The user composes the image using optical viewfinder 311
and zoom lens control switch 372 shown in FIG. 3A. Zoom lens 312
focuses light from a scene (not shown) on an image sensor 314, for
example, a single-chip color CCD image sensor, using the well-known
Bayer color filter pattern. Image sensor 314 is controlled by clock
drivers 306. Zoom and focus motors 310 and clock drivers 306 are
controlled by control signals supplied by a control processor and
timing generator circuit 304. When the user depresses shutter
button 374 (FIG. 3A) to take a picture, control processor and
timing generator 304 receives inputs from autofocus and
autoexposure detectors 308 and controls a flash 302. The analog
output signal from image sensor 314 is amplified and converted to
digital data by analog signal processing (ASP) and
analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuit 316. The digital data is
stored in a DRAM buffer memory 318 and subsequently processed by a
camera processor 320 controlled by the firmware stored in a
firmware memory 328, which can be flash EPROM memory.
[0026] Power for the digital camera 300 is provided by rechargeable
batteries 360, via power supply circuits 362. In some embodiments,
the rechargeable batteries 360 can be recharged from power provided
by connector 352.
[0027] The processed digital image file is provided to a camera
memory card interface 324, which stores the digital image file on
memory card 330. Removable memory cards 330 which are described as
an example in the present specification are known to those skilled
in the art, and are one type of digital storage media. The memory
card 330 can conform to the Compact Flash interface standard, such
as described in the CompactFlash Specification Version 1.3,
published by the CompactFlash Association, Palo Alto, Calif., Aug.
5, 1998. The removable memory card can alternately conform to the
PCMCIA, Smart Media, Memory Stick, or SD memory card formats. The
present invention is not limited to memory cards and it is noted
that other types of digital storage media, such as magnetic hard
drives, magnetic tape, or optical disks, can alternatively be used
to store the digital images. Alternatively, internal Flash memory
could be used in place or, or in addition to, the removable memory
card 330, to store captured images.
[0028] Processor 320 performs color interpolation followed by color
and tone correction, in order to produce rendered sRGB image data
as defined in IEC 61966-2-1 Multimedia systems and
equipment--Colour measurement and management--Part 2-1: Colour
management--Default RGB colour space--sRGB available from the
International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva, Switzerland. The
rendered sRGB image data is then JPEG compressed and stored as a
JPEG image file on memory card 330 using an JPEG/Exif version 2.1
image file as defined in Digital Still Camera Image File Format
Standard (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Camera:
Exif), version 2.1, JEIDA-49-1998 available from the Japan
Electronic Industry Development Association, Tokyo, Japan. The
JPEG/Exif image files can be utilized by many different image
capable devices, such as computers and stand-alone printers.
[0029] Processor 320 also creates a "thumbnail" size image, as
described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,831 "Electronic
still camera providing multi-format storage of full and reduced
resolution images" to Kuchta et al. The thumbnail image is stored
in RAM memory 326 and supplied to a color LCD image display 332,
which displays the captured image for the user to review. User
controls 303 and the text, icons, and images displayed on the
display 332 provide the camera graphical user interface (camera
GUI). As shown in FIG. 3A, the user controls 303 include a number
of miniaturized buttons, 380, 382, 394, 396, 398 and a
capture/review mode switch 386. These controls must be small in
order to fit on the back of camera 300, and arranged so that they
do not get in the way during the picture taking operations. After a
series of images have been taken by placing mode switch 386 in the
capture position, and then repeatedly depressing shutter button
374, mode switch 386 may be placed in the review position so that
the captured images can be reviewed on color LCD image display
332.
[0030] When the camera is operated independently of the printer,
the camera graphical user interface is controlled by the user
interface portion of the firmware stored in firmware memory 328,
which controls how the processor 320 responds to user controls 303
and creates the information displayed on display 332. Display 332
can be an active matrix color LCD display. Alternately, it can use
other display technologies, such as organic light emitting diodes
(OLEDs). Electronic camera 300 can also include a video output
driver and connector (not shown) for displaying the captured images
on a TV (not shown). Camera 300 may include firmware stored in
firmware memory 328 to control image processor 320 to allow the
user to create an image utilization file, or print order file,
(such as a Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) file) to indicate what
images are to be printed. Such utilization files, including print
utilization files, are described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/977,382, filed Nov. 24, 1997 to Parulski.
This print utilization file, which is also called a print order
file, is created as a user selects images to be printed using user
controls 303 while viewing the captured images on display 332, and
is then stored on memory card 330 along with the image files. The
print order file can be a text file that identifies which of the
captured images have been selected for printing and how many copies
of each individual image are to be printed. The print order file
can further include information identifying a selected print size
for each image to be printed.
[0031] After a series of images have been taken and stored on
memory card 330, the camera 300 is inserted into the recess 450 in
digital printer 400 shown in FIG. 3B. The printer 400 includes a
connector 452 which mates with a connector 352 in digital camera
300 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in order to electrically interconnect printer
interface 322 in digital camera 300 to camera interface 422 in
digital printer 400. The electrical interface 342 between
electronic camera 300 and digital printer 400 may use any
well-known interface, such as the universal serial bus (USB)
interface specification, the IEEE 1394 interface specification, or
other cable interface or card interface specifications.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of digital printer 400. FIG. 3B
depicts the appearance of digital printer 400. Digital printer 400
produces digital prints (not shown) from images provided on memory
card 330 via interface 342 from electronic camera 300. Digital
printer 400 includes a media transport mechanism 410, such as a
motor-driven roller, for moving hard copy media (e.g., ink jet
paper) past a marking apparatus 412 (e.g., a color ink jet head)
under the control of a printer processor 420. Processor 420
controls the marking apparatus 412 to provide controlled amounts of
various color inks or dyes in order to produce a pictorial image on
the hardcopy media. Color marking apparatus 412 may alternately use
color thermal dye sublimation, color electrophotographic, or color
instant technologies to produce the digital prints. As shown in
FIG. 3B, digital printer 400 includes a paper exit slot 416 where
the print can be ejected from digital printer 400, and an access
door 414 which can be opened to replace the inks or dyes (e.g. to
replace the color ink jet cartridge). Printer 400 also includes a
power switch 431 for turning on and off power to printer 400
provided by a power cord input (not shown).
[0033] Digital printer 400 is controlled by printer user controls
430. User controls 430 and the text, icons, and images displayed on
the color LCD image display 332 of digital camera 300 provide the
printer graphical user interface (printer GUI). The printer GUI is
controlled by the user interface portion of the firmware stored in
printer firmware memory 428, which controls how processor 420
responds to user controls 430 and the color LCD image display
control portion of the firmware stored in camera firmware memory
328, which controls how image processor 320 creates the information
displayed on color LCD image display 332.
[0034] Since the image files created by electronic camera 300 use
the JPEG/Exif image format, they are JPEG compressed and must be
decompressed by processor 420 in digital printer 400. Processor 420
also provides interpolation, sharpening, color correction, and
half-toning to prepare the image data properly to be used by the
marking apparatus 412. Processor 420 is controlled by firmware
stored in firmware memory 428. Alternatively, the processing can be
provided by image processor 320 in camera 300, in order to reduce
the required performance and cost of processor 420 in digital
printer 400.
[0035] To quickly allow the images stored on memory card 330 to be
displayed on color LCD image display 332, image processor 320
downloads the "thumbnail" size images from the images provided on
memory card 330. These thumbnail images are stored in RAM memory
326 and supplied to display 332, so that the user can select the
images to be printed using user controls 430 on printer 400. The
user controls 430 on the digital printer 400 are much larger that
those on digital camera 300, since the digital printer 400 does not
need to be a hand-held device. Furthermore, the user controls 430
can be arranged and labeled in order to be very easy to use.
[0036] FIG. 4 depicts the printer user controls 430 in more detail.
User controls 430 include menu button 440, select button 442,
view/return button 444, print button 446 and cursor button 450
having left arrow button 452, up arrow button 454, right arrow
button 456, and down arrow button 458. Printer user controls 430
and color LCD image display 332 provide the printer graphical user
interface (printer GUI).
[0037] Camera 300 can be further adapted to communicate with a
network service provider 1000 (FIG. 2), such as the internet, by
way of a modem 1001, to permit the electronic transfer of images to
the camera; or camera 300 can be adapted to communicate with a
computer via a PC interface 2000 to receive images from a personal
computer. With these arrangements a user can load images from the
internet or from a computer to the camera. With the camera
connected to printer 400, the user can then use user control 430 on
printer 400 to manipulate the loaded images while they are being
displayed on image display 332 of the camera. As an alternative,
the connection to the modem or computer can be through the
printer.
[0038] The printer GUI is used to control printer 400 to implement
the general workflow depicted in FIG. 5. The workflow includes
numerous printer modes 500-518 which utilize various printer GUI
screens shown in FIG. 6A-FIG. 6J, which are displayed on the color
LCD image display 332 of digital camera 300. The modes include an
Idle mode 500 that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6A, a
Photos to Print mode 502 that uses the printer GUI screen shown in
FIG. 6B, a Printing in Process mode 504 that uses the printer GUI
screen shown in FIG. 6C, and a Layout mode 505 that uses the
printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6D. The modes also include a Full
Photo View mode 508 that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG.
6E, a Page Preview mode 506 that uses the printer GUI screen shown
in FIG. 6F, and a Main Menu Categories mode 510 that uses the
printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6G.
[0039] The modes also include Print Setup modes 512, including a
Photos submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6B
and a Layout submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG.
6D. The modes also include Paper Settings modes 514, including a
Paper Size submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG.
6H and a Paper Format submode that uses the printer GUI screen
shown in FIG. 61. The modes also include Edits modes 516, including
a Crop submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6J, a
Rotate submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6K,
an Add Frame submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG.
6L, an add Text submode that uses the printer GUI screens shown in
FIG. 6M, and a Change brightness submode that uses the printer GUI
screen shown in FIG. 6N. The modes also include Utilities modes
518, including an Erase card submode that uses the printer GUI
screen shown in FIG. 6-O, an Ink Level submode that uses the
printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6P, and a User Default Layout
submode that uses the printer GUI screen shown in FIG. 6Q.
[0040] Menu button 440 as shown in FIG. 4 toggles to and from Main
Menu Categories mode 510 from the Page Preview mode 506 or the Full
Photo View mode 508. Select button 442 is used in Full Photo View
mode 508 to toggle images to be printed on and off in order to
select specific images to be printed. In Menu modes 510, 512, 514,
516 and 518, select button 442 allows the user to enter a submenu
or accept menu settings. View/return button 444 is used to switch
modes between Page Preview mode 506 and Full Photo View mode 508.
In Menu modes 510, 512, 514, 516 and 518, View/return button 444
allows the user to return to a previous menu level without
retaining any changed settings.
[0041] Print button 446 initiates the print procedure. If there is
no memory card 330 attached to memory card interface 324 of digital
camera 300, or if the digital camera 300 is not connected to the
digital printer 400 using interface 342, pressing print button 446
initiates a test print. If there is a memory card 330 in digital
camera 300, and the digital camera 300 is connected to digital
printer 400 using interface 342, depressing print button 446
initiates the print using the current printer settings.
[0042] In Full Photo View mode 508 corresponding to the display
screen shown in FIG. 6E, cursor left arrow 452 and cursor right
arrow 456 allow the user to navigate photos, and cursor up arrow
454 and down arrow 458 allow the user to select the number of
copies per image. In Page Preview mode 506 corresponding to the
display screen in FIG. 6F, cursor left arrow 452 and cursor right
arrow 456 allows the user to navigate the pages. In Menu modes 510,
512, 514, 516 and 518, the cursor buttons 450 are used for menu
navigation.
[0043] Turning now to FIG. 6A, idle screen 600 is used to provide
pertinent information on the current printer parameter settings.
These parameters include the layout, paper size, paper type, and
print quality. The user-defined default setting (to be described
later in relation to FIG. 6Q) is used, unless the user overrides
this default setting by making other selections. Idle screen 600
allows the user to immediately understand the settings that will be
used if the user immediately presses print button 446 in FIG. 4.
This is beneficial because the user may not have used the printer
for some time, and may have forgotten the printer parameter
settings. If the settings are appropriate, the user may insert
removable memory card 330 into digital camera 300 and immediately
make prints without further interactions with the printer GUI. The
idle screen also displays an icon 602 representing the printer, to
provide immediate identification that this is not a parameter
setting screen such as the parameter settings screens depicted in
FIGS. 6B-6N.
[0044] FIG. 6B depicts the first start-up GUI screen 604, which is
displayed on color LCD image display 332 when the user inserts
memory card 330 into the memory card interface 324. GUI screen 604
provides a simple method for printing either all of the images
stored on memory card 330 using the "Print All" option or printing
the images specified in an image utilization file stored along with
the images on memory card 330 using the "Print Order" option. The
user can also use the "Print Index" option to make an index print
including small versions of all of the images stored on memory card
330. In all three cases, processor 420 in digital printer 400
instructs processor 320 in digital camera 300 to update the printer
GUI screen shown on color image display 332 of digital camera 300
to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG. 6C. Finally, the user can
select the "Review and Choose" option in FIG. 6B to choose
particular images to be printed. In this case, processor 420 in
digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera 300
to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display 332
of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG.
6D.
[0045] FIG. 6C depicts a "Printing in Process" GUI screen 606. This
screen lists the parameter settings that are being used to print
the images. It also includes a progress bar 608 that graphically
indicates the percentage of the pages that have so far been
printed. Finally, the GUI screen 606 includes a "Cancel" option 610
that will abort the printing process when selected by the user.
[0046] FIG. 6D depicts a Layout startup screen 612. This allows the
user to choose exactly how the pictures will be laid out on the
printed pages. The user can use the up button 454 and down button
458 of cursor 450 to select option 614 or 616. The General Category
option 614 represents a general category of print formats. If
arrows 620 and 622 are visible, the user can use the cursor right
arrow 456 and left arrow 452 in FIG. 4 to view other allowed print
format settings. These print formats include general Photo Sizes
(e.g. 8".times.10" and 4".times.6" size images) as well as specific
formatted media identifiers (e.g. defined template numbers) that
indicate specific paper size and layout details, such as the
location of perforations if the paper is perforated. The firmware
memory 428 in printer 400 stores the paper size and layout
information for each media identifier, to simplify the use of such
media by the user. The specific options listed in option list 616
provide specific options that may be utilized for the General
Category 614 chosen by the user, such as allowed photo sizes (e.g.
5".times.7", 4".times.6", etc.). Underneath the specific option
list 616 is a graphical representation 618 of the currently
selected layout and the current paper size and type settings 619.
For example, graphical representation 618 indicates that two
5".times.7" images will be printed on an 8.5".times.11" size
paper.
[0047] After the user chooses his/her preferred layout using GUI
screen 612 in FIG. 6D and presses the Select button 442, processor
420 in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital
camera 300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image
display 332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown
in FIG. 6E. The top of the screen 624 provides pertinent
information including picture number 630 and copies 632 which is
overlayed on a thumbnail image depicting the specific picture 636.
The left arrow 638 and right arrow 640 located at the edges of the
screen indicate to the user that they can view other images by
depressing the left arrow 452 and right arrow 456 of the cursor 450
in FIG. 4 in order to scroll to other digital images stored on
removable memory 330. Checkmark 634 indicates whether or not image
636 has been selected for printing. By depressing Select button
442, the user can toggle between printing or not printing the
specific image 636. Arrows 628 indicate to the user that they can
change the numbers of prints for the specific image 636 by
depressing the up arrow 454 and down arrow 458 of cursor 450 in
FIG. 4. If image 636 has been edited by the user (as will be
described later in relation to FIGS. 6J-N), icon 626 is made
visible in GUI screen 624. When the user presses View/Return button
444, processor 420 in digital printer 300 instructs processor 320
in digital camera 300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on
color image display 332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen
606 shown in FIG. 6F.
[0048] FIG. 6F depicts a Page Preview GUI screen 642, to allow the
user to view the appearance of the entire print. A single page 648
is represented on GUI screen 642, and may contain multiple images,
such as the four different images shown in page 648. The left
arrows 644 and right arrow 646 indicate to the user that they can
view other pages by depressing the left arrow 452 and right arrow
456 of the cursor 450 in FIG. 4. The paper size and type 652 and
the current and total number of different pages to be printed 650
are also displayed in GUI screen 642.
[0049] When the user presses the menu button 440 in FIG. 4,
processor 420 in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in
digital camera 300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color
image display 332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606
shown in FIG. 6G. Icons 656, 658, and 660 depict general menu
categories. For example, icon 656 represents the Print Setup
category mode 512 in FIG. 5, icon 658 represents the Paper Settings
category mode 514 in FIG. 5, and icon 660 represents the Edits
category mode 516 in FIG. 5. Once a general menu category has been
selected (e.g. Print Setup category mode 512 in FIG. 5) the user
can select specific submenu options relevant to that category (e.g.
Photos or Layout). FIG. 5 lists the main menu categories and the
submenu options. Arrow key 659 indicates to the user that they can
select a different general menu category (e.g. Utilities Category
mode 518) by depressing the down arrow 458 of the cursor 450 in
FIG. 4 When the user selects the Paper Size submenu, processor 420
in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera
300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display
332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG.
6H. A check mark 664 indicates the current paper size setting. The
user can select a different paper size by using the up arrow 454
and down arrow 458 in FIG. 4 to highlight a different paper size.
By then pressing the select button 442, the user can select the
newly highlighted paper size to change paper size settings. The
processor 420 then stores the newly selected paper size setting in
firmware memory 428 of digital printer 400, and instructs image
processor 320 in digital camera 300 to update the GUI shown on
color image display 332 to the Paper Settings Submenu (not shown).
If the user instead presses the View/Return button 444, the user
can exit the Paper Size submenu, and processor 420 will not modify
the current setting stored in firmware memory 428.
[0050] When the user selects the Paper Format submenu, processor
420 in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital
camera 300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image
display 332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown
in FIG. 61. GUI screen 666 indicates the currently selected media
identifier 674. The left arrow 668 and right arrow 670 indicate to
the user that they can view other media options by depressing the
left arrow 452 and right arrow 456 of the cursor 450 in FIG. 4. The
GUI screen 666 also includes graphical representation 672 of the
currently selected media. This allows the user to easily visualize
important aspects of the currently selected media. For example, if
the currently selected media provides two perforated 5".times.7"
prints on a single 8.5".times.11" size sheet of paper, the user can
recognize this by viewing graphical representation 672
corresponding to the selected media identifier 674.
[0051] When the user selects the Crop submenu, processor 420 in
digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera 300
to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display 332
of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG. 6J. A
thumbnail view of a cropped portion of the current image read from
memory card 330 is displayed within crop window 686. The image area
outside crop window 686 has a darkened appearance, indicating that
this area of the image will not be printed. Arrows 676, 678, 680,
and 682 indicate to the user that they can modify the position of
the crop window by using cursor 450 to change the area of the image
that will be printed. If an image has been previously cropped, the
cropping can be undone using the Undo Crop option 684. If the image
has not been previously cropped, the Undo Crop option 684 is not
displayed in GUI screen 674. When the user presses the select
button 442, the processor 420 stores the crop settings for the
current image in firmware memory 428. These stored settings will be
used when the image is printed.
[0052] When the user selects the Rotate submenu, processor 420 in
digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera 300
to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display 332
of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG. 6K. A
thumbnail view of the current image read from memory card 330 is
displayed in window 694. The left arrow 690 and right arrow 692
indicate to the user that they can selectively rotate the image by
90 degree increments by depressing the left arrow 452 and right
arrow 456 of the cursor 450 in FIG. 4. The currently selected
rotation setting 696 is indicated by a checkmark 698. When the user
selects a different setting, the orientation of the image within
window 694 is also rotated, so that the user can immediately
preview the results of applying the rotation setting. By using the
thumbnail image data stored within the image file on removable
memory 330, processor 320 within digital camera 300 can quickly
modify the thumbnail image and provide an immediate visual response
in window 694 to the user's selection, so that the user can quickly
confirm that they have made an appropriate selection. When the user
presses select button 442, processor 420 stores the orientation
setting for the current image in firmware memory 328. This stored
setting will be used when the image is printed.
[0053] When the user selects the Add Frame submenu, processor 420
in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera
300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display
332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG.
6L. A thumbnail view of the current image read from memory card 330
is displayed in window 706. The left arrow 702 and right arrow 704
indicate to the user that they can select various decorative frames
by depressing the left arrow 452 and right arrow 456 of the cursor
450 in FIG. 4. The currently selected frame setting 708 is
indicated by a checkmark 710. For example, GUI screen 700 shows
that no frame has been selected. When the user selects a different
frame option, the image shown within window 706 is updated to
depict the current image within the selected frame. For example,
GUI screen 712 in FIG. 6L' indicates that a Circle frame has been
selected. The frame options can be stored in firmware memory 428 in
digital printer 400, firmware memory 328 in digital camera 300, or
in memory card 330. Alternatively, it can be downloaded from memory
card 330 to firmware memory 328 in digital camera 300 or firmware
memory 428 in digital printer 400 using the methods described in
commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264, Dec. 19, 1995,
"Electronic imaging system using a removable software-enhanced
storage device" to Sarbadhikari et. al., the disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated by reference. By using the thumbnail image data
stored within the image file on removable memory 330 as well as a
thumbnail image of the decorative frame, processor 320 within
digital camera 300 can quickly combine the current image and
currently selected frame to provide an immediate visual response in
window 706 to the user's selection, so that the user can quickly
confirm that they have made an appropriate selection. When the user
presses the select button 442 in FIG. 4, processor 420 stores the
frame setting for the current image in firmware memory 428 in FIG.
2. This stored setting will be used when the image is printed.
[0054] When the user selects the Add Text submenu, processor 420 in
digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera 300
to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display 332
of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 606 shown in FIG. 6M. A
thumbnail view of the current image read from memory card 330 is
displayed in window 720. The left arrow 716 and right arrow 718
indicate to the user that they can select various text messages by
depressing the left arrow 452 and right arrow 456 of the cursor 450
in FIG. 4. The currently selected text message setting 722 is
indicated by a checkmark 724. For example, GUI screen 714 shows
that no text has been selected. When the user selects a different
text option, the image shown within window 720 is updated to depict
the current image overlaid by the selected text. For example, GUI
screen 726 in FIG. 6M' indicates that a text message "Anniversary"
has been selected. Various text messages can be stored as text
files within firmware memory 428 in digital printer 400, firmware
memory 328 in digital camera 300, or on memory card 330. By using
the thumbnail image data stored within the image file on memory
card 330, processor 420 within printer 400 can quickly combine the
current image and currently selected text message to provide an
immediate visual response in window 720 to the user's selection, so
that the user can quickly confirm that they have made an
appropriate selection. When the user presses select button 442,
processor 420 stores the text setting for the current image in
firmware memory 428. This stored setting will be used when the
image is printed.
[0055] When the user selects the Change Brightness submenu,
processor 420 in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in
digital camera 300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color
image display 332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 728
shown in FIG. 6N. A small thumbnail view of the current image read
from memory card 330 is displayed in window 734. A second window
736 depicts a brightness-adjusted version of the same digital
image. The left arrow 730 and right arrow 732 indicate to the user
that they can select brightness settings by depressing the left
arrow 452 and right arrow 456 of the cursor 450 in FIG. 4. The
currently selected brightness setting 738 is indicated by a
checkmark 740. When the user selects various brightness settings,
the image shown within window 736 is updated to depict the modified
image, using the methods described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/315,647 filed May 20, 1999, "Correcting
Exposure in a Rendered Digital Image", to Gilman, et. al. By using
the thumbnail image data stored within the image file on memory
card 330, processor 420 within printer 400 can quickly modify the
image to provide an immediate visual response in window 736 to the
user's selection, so that the user can quickly confirm that they
have made an appropriate selection. When the user presses the
select button 442, the processor 420 stores the brightness setting
for the current image in firmware memory 428. This stored setting
will be used when the image is printed.
[0056] When the user selects the Erase Card submenu, processor 420
in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera
300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display
332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 742 shown in FIG.
6-O. When the user confirms that they want to erase all of the
images from memory card 330, a progress bar 744 indicates how much
progress has been made in erasing the images. A cancel bar 746 can
be selected to abort the process of erasing memory card 330.
[0057] When the user selects the Ink Level submenu, processor 420
in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in digital camera
300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color image display
332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 748 shown in FIG.
6P. GUI screen 748 includes a graphic representation 752 and
numeric value 750 indicating the approximate level of ink remaining
in the cartridge within marking apparatus 412 of digital printer
400. The user can return to the Utilities submenu (not shown) by
pressing the Select button 442 or the View/Return button 444 in
FIG. 4.
[0058] When the user selects the User Default Layout submenu,
processor 420 in digital printer 400 instructs processor 320 in
digital camera 300 to update the printer GUI screen shown on color
image display 332 of digital camera 300 to provide GUI screen 754
shown in FIG. 6Q. Using a process similar to that described in
relation to FIG. 6D, the user can select a preferred layout. This
layout is then used as the default the next time the printer is
used, as described earlier in relation to FIG. 6A. When the user
presses the select button 442, processor 420 stores the user
default setting in firmware memory 428.
[0059] The firmware code stored in firmware memory 428 can be
customized to suit the needs of a particular user, as described in
commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/534,469,
entitled "Configuring and Purchasing Imaging Devices" to Parulski.
Either the memory card 330 or the camera interface 422 can be used
to upload the customized firmware to the firmware memory 428 from a
separate computer (not shown). The configured firmware stored in
firmware memory 428 can include personal digital data, for example,
the name, address, and favorite photo of the printer owner, or a
greeting if the printer was given as a gift. This personal digital
data can be displayed on the display 332 for a specified period
(e.g., five seconds) when the digital printer 400 is turned on and
connected to digital camera 300. This personal digital data can be
used to determine the owner, in case the digital printer 400, which
can be a small portable device, is lost or stolen.
[0060] In an alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, digital
printer 400 is attached to electronic camera 300 using connection
342 in the form of interface cable 342'. Interface cable 342' mates
with a connector on electronic camera 300 to provide a connection
between printer interface 322 of electronic camera 300 in FIG. 1
and camera interface 422 of digital printer 400 in FIG. 2. Digital
printer 400 in FIG. 7 does not include a slot for holding digital
camera 300.
[0061] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of a third embodiment of a
printing system, which includes a digital printer 800A which docks
with digital camera 300A. The digital camera 300A is the same as
the digital camera 300 described in reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
3A, except that the style of the camera and the number and location
of user controls 303 is different. The digital camera 300A includes
an optical viewfinder 311A and a color image display 332A, as well
as user controls 303A. The digital printer 800A includes a paper
exit slot 816A through which prints 818A exit.
[0062] FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the digital printer 800A. The
printer 800A includes a raised top region 802A having a recess 804A
for receiving the digital camera 300A. The recess 804A includes a
connecting interface region 806A which includes an electrical
connector 452A which mates with a connector 352 in digital camera
300A (FIG. 1) in order to electrically interconnect printer
interface 322 in digital camera 300A to camera interface 422A in
digital printer 800A. In one preferred embodiment, the electrical
interface 342 between electronic camera 300A and digital printer
800A uses the universal serial bus (USB) interface specification,
although many other interface specifications may be used, including
the well-known IEEE 1394 interface specification, or other cable
interface or card interface specifications including proprietary
interface specifications.
[0063] The recess 804A further includes pins for mechanically
securing the digital camera 300A, including a raised post 810A
which slides inside the tripod mount hole (not shown) on the bottom
of the digital camera 300A, and a locating pin 812A which slides
inside a locating hole (not shown) on the bottom of the digital
camera 300A.
[0064] The digital printer 800A includes user controls 430A. The
user controls 430A include a printing mode selection user interface
820A, which includes a plurality of status icons 822A-828A which
comprise a printing mode display. Icon 822A indicates the "print
order file" (e.g. DPOF) printing mode, icon 824A indicates the
"print current image" printing mode, icon 826A indicates the "print
all" printing mode, and icon 828A indicates the "index print"
printing mode. As will be described later with reference to FIG.
11, when the digital camera 300A is docked to the digital printer
800A, the memory card 330 of the digital camera 330A is checked to
determine if there is a print order file, such as a DPOF file. If
there is, the printing mode is automatically set to the "print
order file" mode and status icon 822A is displayed. If there is no
print order file stored on the memory card 330, the printing mode
is automatically set to the "print current image" mode, and status
icon 824A is displayed. A "printing mode" button 830A is used to
change modes. Each time the user presses the button 830A, the
printing mode cycles to the next mode. In other words, if the
current mode is the "print order file" mode, the mode changes to
the "print current image" mode when button 830A is pressed a first
time, then to the "print all" mode when button 830A is pressed a
second time, then to the "index print" mode when button 830A is
pressed a third time, and finally back to "print order file" mode
when button 830A is pressed a fourth time.
[0065] The user controls 430A also include "+/-" buttons 832A and
834A. These buttons allow the current image, displayed on color
image display 332A of digital camera 300A, to be changed. For
example, the user can push button 830A until the printing mode is
set to "print current image" mode, and then press the "+" button
832A one or more times to display the next images in place of the
current image, or press the "-" button one or more times to display
a previous image as the current image. Then, the user presses the
print button 836A to make a print of the current image.
[0066] The digital printer 800A includes a paper error LED 844A
which blinks when the digital printer 800A has a paper error, such
as a paper jam or an empty paper supply. The digital printer 800A
also includes a donor error LED 848A which blinks when the digital
printer 800A has a donor error, such as a donor ribbon jam or when
the donor ribbon has been fully used. The digital printer 800A
includes camera battery power LED indicators 846A which indicate
the battery level of the rechargeable batteries 360 (see FIG. 1) of
the digital camera 300A.
[0067] The user controls 430A also include a transfer button 850A
and a slide show button 852A. The transfer button 850A is used to
initiate transfer of digital images from the memory card 330 of the
digital camera 300A to an optional computer 496A (see FIG. 10) via
PC interface 492A and connector 494A. The slide show button 852A is
used to initiate a slide show display of all of the images stored
on the memory card 330, either on the LCD 332A of the digital
camera 300A, or on an optional television receiver 474A (see FIG.
10) via video driver circuit 470A and connector 472A.
[0068] FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of the digital printer 800A.
Digital printer 800A produces digital prints 818A from images
provided on memory card 330 via interface 342 from electronic
camera 300A. The interface 342 includes connector 452A on digital
printer 800A, which connects with camera interface circuit 422A,
which is connected to processor 420A and to PC interface 492A.
Digital printer 800A includes a media transport mechanism 41 OA,
such as a motor-driven roller, for moving hard copy media (e.g. ink
jet paper or thermal print paper) past a marking apparatus 412A
(e.g., a color ink jet head or a thermal printing head) under the
control of a printer processor 420A. Processor 420A controls the
marking apparatus 412A to provide controlled amounts of various
color inks or dyes in order to produce a pictorial image on the
hardcopy media. Color marking apparatus 412A may alternately use
color electrophotographic, color instant technologies, or other
technologies to produce the digital prints. As shown in FIG. 8,
digital printer 800A includes a paper exit slot 816A where the
print can be ejected from digital printer 800A.
[0069] Digital printer 800 is controlled by firmware stored in
printer firmware memory 428A, which controls how processor 420A
responds to user controls 430A. Since the image files created by
electronic camera 300A use the JPEG/Exif image format, they are
JPEG compressed and must be decompressed prior to printing. In a
preferred embodiment, this decompression is provided by image
processor 320 in camera 300A, in order to reduce the required
performance and cost of processor 420A in digital printer 800A. In
this preferred embodiment, image processor 320 also provides
interpolation, sharpening, and color correction to prepare the
image data properly to be used by the marking apparatus 412A. This
processed image data is then transferred from the digital camera
300A to the digital printer 800A via interface 452A.
[0070] FIG. 11 depicts a flow diagram of a typical user interaction
scenario. In block 900, a camera user captures many digital images
using the digital camera 300A. The digital images are stored as
Exif image files using the memory card 330. In block 902, the user
decides whether to create a print order using the digital camera
300A. If yes to block 902, in block 904, the user reviews the
captured images which are stored on the memory card 330. If no to
block 902, blocks 904 and 906 are skipped.
[0071] In block 904, the user selects the images to be printed and
the number of copies of each print to make. For example, the user
may request no copies of some images, a single copy of other
images, and two or more copies of certain favorite images. The
selection is done using the user controls 303A, as the user views
the images on the color image display 332A of the digital camera
300A. In block 906, the image processor 320 in the digital camera
300A creates a print order file, which can be a DPOF file, and
stores the file on the memory card 330.
[0072] In block 908, the user places the digital camera 300A in the
digital printer 800A, in order to make prints of some of the
captured images. In block 910, the processor 420A in the digital
printer 800A sends a request to the image processor 320 in the
digital camera 300A to determine whether there is a print order
file present on the memory card 330. If yes to block 910, in block
912 the "print order file" printing mode is automatically enabled
(e.g. it becomes the default mode) and the "print order file"
printing mode icon 822A is displayed. If no to block 910, in block
920 the "current image" printing mode is automatically enabled and
the "current image" printing mode icon 824A is displayed. When the
"print order file" printing mode is enabled (block 912), the LCD
332A on the digital camera 300A displays the printer GUI screen
1000 shown in FIG. 12B. This "print order" screen displays the
number of pictures tagged to be printed (e.g. 5 pictures) and the
number of pages needed to make all the prints requested (e.g. 9
pages). Though not shown in FIG. 11, if the user presses the "+"
button 834A the LCD 332A on the digital camera 300A replaces the
display of the GUI screen 1000 shown in FIG. 12B with a display of
the first image of the print order, as shown in GUI screen 200 in
FIG. 12A. Each time the user presses the "+" button 834A (or
alternatively the "-" button 832A), the next (or alternatively the
previous) image of the print order is displayed on the LCD 332A on
the digital camera 300A.
[0073] In block 914, since the print order file mode is enabled, if
the user presses the print button 836A (yes to 914), in block 916
the digital printer 800A prints the images as specified in the
print order file, which was created in block 906. After printing
the images, the digital printer 800A clears the print order file,
and then enables the "current image" printing mode 920. In block
914, if the user does not press the print button 836A (no to 914),
the printer remains in the "print order file" printing mode
912.
[0074] In block 918, if the user presses the mode button 830 (yes
to 918), the "current image" printing mode is enabled in block 920.
In block 918, if the user does not press the mode button 830A (no
to 918), the printer remains in the "print order file" printing
mode 912.
[0075] When the "current image" printing mode is enabled, the LCD
332A on the digital camera 300A displays the printer GUI screen
2000 shown in FIG. 12A. This "print current" screen displays the
current image. In block 922, if the user presses either the "+"
button 834A to advance to the next image, or the "-" button 832A to
move back to a previous image (yes to 922), the current image is
changed in block 924, and the new image is displayed as the
"current" image, in place of the image shown in FIG. 12A. In block
922, if the user does not press the either the "+" button 834A or
the "-" button 832A (no to 922), the current image is not changed.
In block 926, if the user presses the "print" button 836 (yes to
926), the digital printer 800A makes one print of the currently
displayed image in block 928. This provides a very simple mode of
printing only a single image, which is the image currently
displayed on the color image display 332A of the digital camera
300A. After printing the current image in block 928, the "current
image" printing mode (block 920) continues to be enabled. In block
926, if the user does not press the print button 836A (no to 926),
a print is not made, and the printer remains in the "current image"
printing mode (block 920).
[0076] In block 930, if the user presses the mode button 830A (yes
to 930), the "print all" printing mode is enabled in block 932. In
block 930, if the user does not press the mode button 830A (no to
930), the printer remains in the "current image" printing mode
(block 920). When the "print all" printing mode is enabled, the LCD
332A on the digital camera 300A displays the printer GUI screen
3000 shown in FIG. 12C. This "print all" screen indicates that all
pictures will be printed in this printing mode, and also indicates
the total number of pages (e.g. 32 pages) needed to make all of the
prints. In block 934, if the user presses the "print" button 836A
(yes to 934), the digital printer 800A makes one print of each of
the images stored on the memory card 330. This provides a very
simple mode of printing all of the captured images. After producing
the prints, the printer moves to block 910, to determine if a print
order file is present. In block 934, if the user does not press the
print button 836A (no to 934), prints are not made, and the printer
remains in the "print all" printing mode (block 932).
[0077] In block 938, if the user presses the mode button 830A (yes
to 938), the "index print" printing mode is enabled in block 940.
In block 938, if the user does not press the mode button 830A (no
to 938), a print is not made, and the printer remains in the "print
all" printing mode (block 932). When the "index print" printing
mode is enabled, the LCD 332A on the digital camera 300A displays
the printer GUI screen 4000 shown in FIG. 12D. This "print index1"
screen indicates that all pictures will be printed in this printing
mode as one or more index prints, and also indicates the total
number of pages (e.g. 2 pages) needed to make the index prints. In
block 942, if the user presses the "print" button 836A (yes to
942), the digital printer 800A makes the requested index prints
(block 944). After producing the prints, the printer moves to block
910, to determine if a print order file is present. In block 942,
if the user does not press the print button 836A (no to 942), index
prints are not made, and the printer remains in the "index print"
printing mode (block 940).
[0078] In block 946, if the user presses the mode button 830A (yes
to 946), the memory card 330 is checked in block 910 to determine
if it contains a print order file as described earlier. If yes, the
"print order file" printing mode is enabled in block 912. If not,
the "current image" printing mode is enabled in block 920. In block
946, if the user does not press the mode button 830A (no to 946)
the printer remains in the "index print" printing mode (block
940).
[0079] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *